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5 Day Trail of Hope (Summer) Horseback Riding Holiday in Vatnsdalur, Iceland
Hvammur Farm, Vatnsdalur Valley, Húnabyggð, Northwest Constituency, Northwestern Region, Iceland
Iceland Horse Riding Holiday
This listing has one of the 10 most popular offers available in in Iceland
On this trail, you will ride through diverse nature, on black sandy beaches perfect for the famous gait Tölt to the highlight of the program when you glide over Lake Hope.
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 242 pounds / 110 kilograms
- Tack Type: Icelandic tack
- Horse Breed: Icelandic horses
Meet the instructors
Haukur
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Highlights
- 4 riding days
- Ride along valleys, lagoons, and waterfalls
- Visits to various attractions
- Stunning landscapes
- 4 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
Skill level
- Intermediate
Styles
4 days with instruction
Group size: Maximum of 20 participants
Accommodation
Facilities
- Horse riding
- Hot tub / Jacuzzi
- Garden
- Free Wi-Fi
Hvammur farm is situated in the beautiful Vatnsdalur Valley which is so full of the old Sagas and has the famous salmon fishing river Vatnsdalsá running down the middle. The farmhouse was renovated four years ago and has a hot tub in the garden with a view over the river.
- Number of rooms: six rooms
- Number of beds: two to four beds in each room, altogether maximum 19
- Outdoor jacuzzi: Yes
- Number of showers: two
- GSM connection: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Made-up beds: Yes
- Number of WC: two
Program
Itinerary
Day 1: Reykjavík - Hvammur - Vatnsdalur - Sveinsstaðir
Pick up at 8:30 a.m. at BSÍ bus station. Please be ready at the earliest pickup time and be ready in your riding clothes. Transfer by bus from Reykjavík to Hvammur Farm, where you meet horses and guides. You start your ride through Vatnsdalur valley. This beautiful valley is the setting of the Vatnsdæla-Saga. Your ride ends at Sveinsstaðir Farm and you return to Hvammur Farm for your overnight stay.
- Distance: Approximately 14 kilometers
Day 2: Hvammur - Sveinsstaðir - Hóp - Borgarvirki - Þverá - Hvítserkur
You leave Sveinsstaðir Farm and ride alongside the lagoon Hóp. The black sand at the beach is ideal for riding tölt, the special gait of the Icelandic horse. This trail along the shore gives you an idea of the beautiful lagoon you are going to cross tomorrow. You ride along the banks of Víðidalsá River and cross over it. You take a break at Stóra-Borg where your lunch break is and drive to Borgarvirki, a fascinating fortress from the Viking ages.
Then you continue your ride to the sheep pen Þverárétt. Local farmers use it to sort the sheep in the autumn. Before returning to the guesthouse, you take another excursion to the shore where you see Hvítserkur, a basalt rock formation, a nesting place for many seabirds. This area is home to large numbers of seals and hopefully, you can see many of them resting and playing on the beach. You spend the night again at Hammur Farm.
- Distance: Approximately 30 kilometers
Day 3: Hvammur - North Atlantic - Thingeyrar
Today, you explore the beauty of the Vatnsnes peninsula and follow black dunes on Sigríðarstaðasandur towards the North-Atlantic. You have your lunch break on top of the ridge Nesbjörg where you enjoy the great view. Today you cross the lagoon Lake Hóp and follow a safe trail through the water on your way to Thingeyrar Farm, once the site of a monastery founded in the 12th century. For sure this day is one of the highlights of this ride. Relax in the outdoor hot tub at Hvammur Farm before a hearty dinner.
- Distance: Approximately 40 kilometers
Day 4: Hvammur - Thingeyrar - Húnavatn - Hvammur
You start the day with a visit to the historic Thingeyrar Church. This is your last day of riding and you bring the horses back to Hvammur Farm. You cross Lake Húnavatn on a saved trail in the water and enjoy the excitement of the horses once they have returned to the black sand on dry land. You ride on the eastern side of Vatnsdalur valley, past Hvammsfoss waterfall, surrounded by impressive basalt columns. Celebrate the successful return in the evening with a great farewell dinner.
- Distance: Approximately 25 kilometers
Day 5: Hvammur - Reykjavík
It is time to say goodbye to your guides and drive back to Reykjavík - approximately arrive at 12:30 p.m. in Reykjavík BSÍ.
About the program
Íslandshestar reserves the right to alter the itinerary if necessary. This holiday is an ideal opportunity for everyone who wants to enjoy an exceptional ride in different types of landscapes. You ride through diverse nature and get an excellent insight into Icelandic history when listening to stories from the Saga ages. Riding the horses on smooth sandy grounds is a joy for the rider and his mount. There is plenty of time to enjoy the unique gait “tölt” while exploring nature and the history of this outstanding area.
You start the ride at Hvammur Farm in Vatnsdalur Valley. It is a thrilling experience riding on the black sandy beaches, through rivers, fields, and the great lagoon called Lake Hóp (e. Hope). A visit to a seal colony on the North-Atlantic coast and the majestic Hvítserkur monolith is a wonderful thing to see. The well-known farmer Haukur Suska, his family, and the wonderful staff at Hvammur farm operate this program. The maximum weight for a rider is 110 kilograms / 242 pounds.
The Icelandic horse
The breed is best known for its four-beat smooth gait, the “tölt”, which is very comfortable for the rider, especially on a longer tour. Riding an Icelandic horse in its native habitat land is an authentic riding experience. Herding along free running horses is the traditional way of traveling in Iceland since horses are changed at least once a day on longer tours. You get to ride a variety of horses. The tack used for Icelandic horses is slightly different than the tack ordinarily used for other breeds.
The saddle is built close to a dressage saddle and has a relatively flat seat. Saddles come with plain or quilted seats. On longer rides, a crupper helps keep the saddle in place. The riding style used on Icelandic horses is close to the English riding style, but stirrups are worn long. The bits used are mostly simple snaffles. Bridles have a detachable noseband and clip-on reins.
Instructors
Haukur Suska
Haukur Suska and family lives in Hvammur Farm in Vatnsdalur in North Iceland. Haukur along with his family operates several of our tours. Haukur has five children and many many horses. His wonderful family and staff helps him operate the tours. Haukur is always cheerful and it’s so much fun when he takes out his guitar starts playing and singing with our guests.
Location
The holiday will take place in Vatnsdalur Valley, Iceland.
Vatnsdalur
A beautiful grown valley. The salmon and trout river Vatnsdalsá enters the valley and turns to numerous waterfalls and a canyon. Vatnsdalshólar, the uncountable hills, are a well-known feature in Iceland and the area is a setting of Vatnsdæla-Saga.
Borgarvirki
A natural basalt strata feature and a fascinating fortress of the Vikings that was renovated by locals in 1949. It contains ruins and a well inside and stands 177 meters above sea level.
Víðidalsá River
A generous salmon and trout river that runs towards Lake Hóp.
Þverárétt
A sheep pen used by local farmers to sort the sheep in the autumn.
Hvítserkur
A unique basalt rock formation and a nesting place for many seabirds.
Vatnsnes peninsula
The area is one of the best-known seal colonies in Iceland.
Sigríðarstaðasandur
A black sand area with dunes in the northwest of Iceland.
Nesbjörg
75 meters ridge above sea level in northwest Iceland.
Hóp
A lake or a lagoon with wonderful soft ground. It is the fifth-largest lake in Iceland.
Þingeyrar Church
The first stone church in Iceland, was built in 1877. It was replaced by an old turf church. The most valuable piece in this church is the alabaster altarpiece from the 13th century.
Lake Húnavatn
Ingimundur the old, the first settler in Vatnsdal named the lake after a polar bear that he found with her two cubs.
Hvammsfoss waterfall
Situated in Vatnsdalur surrounded by impressive basalt columns.
Food
During the holiday, full-board meals are provided. The menu consists of a large breakfast and traditional Icelandic meals (fish or lamb). Vegetarian meals are available if requested when booking. All riders make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price and are hard to get in the highlands. They can be bought at a reasonable price in the Duty-Free Store at Keflavik Airport upon arrival.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- Horse riding lessons
- 4 nights accommodation
- Full-board meals
- Bus transfer from Reykjavík to the farm
- Rainwear, water bottle, saddle bag, and riding helmet
What's not included
- Flights
- Alcoholic beverages
- Travel insurance
- Extra nights
How to get there
Recommended Airports
KEF
Keflavík International Airport
194 km
Transfer not provided
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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